Waste Management Chair System and Method

ABSTRACT

A waste management chair system includes a chair having an inner-cavity with a toilet-receptacle slat and a toilet-receptacle, and a powered lift-mechanism. The waste management chair system is useful for providing a combined toilet and chair for patients, elderly, and anybody having difficulty being mobile.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/378,208 filed Aug. 22, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of chairs and more specifically relates to a waste disposal chair.

2. Description of Related Art

Many patients and nursing-home residents must be moved in order for them to use the restroom. Not only can this be uncomfortable for patients and hard on caregivers, but it can also be difficult for patients to hold their bladder until moved. Some caregivers may use bedpans, but they can be bulky and uncomfortable. The process of using bed pans may be lengthy and embarrassing for the patient; the process involving summoning the caregiver to bring the bed pan, and position and remove it from beneath the patient. Moreover, the use of the bed pan while the patient is sitting requires that the individual to assume a position that can be uncomfortable and even cause further injury. Therefore, a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0000040 to Edward Conley, et al. relates to a reclining mobility chair and method of use. The described reclining mobility chair and method of use includes a reclining mobility chair comprising a bed including a front end and a back end, a seat cushion resting above a central portion of the bed. The reclining mobility chair includes a back support attached to move from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Further elements include a set of lifts affixed beneath the bed, to raise and lower the bed, a housing attached beneath the set of lifts, where the housing controls the reclining mobility chair to move into a plurality of positions, and a set of wheels attached to said housing. Finally, the reclining mobility chair includes a commode opening positioned within a central portion of the bed, beneath the seat cushion, and a commode attached beneath the commode opening wherein the commode enables the user to pass bodily fluids while seated upon the reclining mobility chair.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known waste disposal chair art, the present disclosure provides a novel waste management chair system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a combined lift and reclining chair with a toilet that is easily disposed of after use.

A waste management chair system is disclosed herein. The waste management chair system includes a chair that may have a back-rest, a pair of arm-rests, and a seat-rest. The seat-rest may include a top opposite a bottom, a left-side opposite a right-side, and a back opposite a front.

An inner-cavity may be contained within the seat-rest. The inner-cavity may include a removable seat-cover integrated in the top of the seat-rest and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity. The inner-cavity may include a toilet receptacle and a toilet-receptacle slat. The toilet-receptacle slat may include a mouth able to receive the toilet receptacle, and a pair of roll-out tracks configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat between a first-state being inside of the inner-cavity and a second-state being outside the inner-cavity. A side-opening may be integrated in at least one of the left-side and the right-side of the seat-rest. The side-opening may be configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat that may be moveable between the first-state and the second-state.

Furthermore, a powered lift-mechanism may be coupled to the bottom of the seat-rest. The powered lift-mechanism may be configured to pitch the front and the back of the seat-rest to an upright position thus allowing a user to easily sit or stand from the chair without injury.

A method of using a waste management chair system is also disclosed herein. The method of using the waste management chair system may comprise the steps of: removing a removable seat-cover, sitting down on a seat-rest, reclining a back-rest via at least one user setting of a user interface, utilizing a toilet receptacle, and lifting a powered lift-mechanism via the at least one user setting of the user interface to an upright position.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a waste management chair system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the waste management chair system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the waste management chair system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the waste management chair system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the waste management chair system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the waste management chair system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a waste disposal chair and more particularly to a waste management chair system and method as used to improve the waste disposal chair.

Generally, the present invention provides a comfortable and convenient way for patients and the elderly to utilize the bathroom while remaining seated in a chair. This eliminates the need to move or shift patients to use the toilet in a separate room. Additionally, the present disclosure avoids the use of bedpans that can be hard to clean and utilize. This may save caregivers a considerable amount of time and possible frustration. The waste management chair system and method offers a comfortable chair when not in use.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a waste management chair system 100. FIG. 1 shows a waste management chair system 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As Illustrated, the waste management chair system 100 may include a chair 110 having a back-rest 111, a pair of arm-rests 112, and a seat-rest 113. The seat-rest 113 may include a top 114 opposite a bottom 115, a left-side 116 opposite a right-side 117, and a back 118 opposite a front 119.

An inner-cavity 120 may be contained within the seat-rest 113. The inner-cavity 120 may include a removable seat-cover 122 integrated in the top 114 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity 120. The inner cavity 120 may include a toilet receptacle 124, and a toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may have a mouth 130 to receive the toilet receptacle 124. Further included may be a pair of roll-out tracks 132 configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat 126 between a first-state 134 being inside of the inner-cavity 120 and a second-state 136 being outside the inner-cavity 120. A side-opening 138 may be integrated in at least one of the left-side 116 and the right-side 117 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may be moveable between the first-state 134 and the second-state 136.

Furthermore, a powered lift-mechanism 140 may be coupled to the bottom 115 of the seat-rest 113. The powered lift-mechanism 140 may be configured to pitch at least one of the front 119 and the back 118 of the seat-rest 113 to an upright position thus allowing a user 40 to easily sit or stand from the chair 110 without injury.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the waste management chair system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system 100 may include the chair 110 having the back-rest 111, the pair of arm-rests 112, and the seat-rest 113. The seat-rest 113 may include the top 114 opposite the bottom 115, the left-side 116 opposite the right-side 117, and the back 118 opposite the front 119. Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the chair 110 to be composed of pleather-material (PLEATHER). Pleather-material may be convenient to clean and maintain. However, other materials such as microfiber, leather, cotton, etc. may be utilized during manufacturing.

The inner-cavity 120 may be contained within the seat-rest 113. The inner cavity 120 may be at least 8 inches in depth. The inner-cavity 120 may include the removable seat-cover 122 integrated in the top 114 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity 120. The inner cavity 120 may further include the toilet receptacle 124 and the toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may have the mouth 130 to receive the toilet receptacle 124. The inner-cavity 120 may include an opening 148 under the removable seat-cover 122 that corresponds to the toilet receptacle 124 allowing waste from a back-side 10 of the user 40 to directly contact the toilet receptacle 124. The opening 148 may be preferably circular and configured to accommodate the back-side 10 of the user 40 like a conventional toilet seat.

Further included in the inner-cavity 120 may be the pair of roll-out tracks 132 configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat 126 between the first-state 134 being inside of the inner-cavity 120 and the second-state 136 being outside the inner-cavity 120. The side-opening 138 may be integrated in at least one of the left-side 116 and the right-side 117 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may be moveable between the first-state 134 and the second-state 136.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the waste management chair system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system 100 may include the chair 110 having the back-rest 111, the pair of arm-rests 112, and the seat-rest 113. The seat-rest 113 may include the top 114 opposite the bottom 115, the left-side 116 opposite the right-side 117, and the back 118 opposite the front 119.

The inner-cavity 120 may be contained within the seat-rest 113. The inner-cavity 120 may include the removable seat-cover 122 integrated in the top 114 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity 120. The inner cavity 120 may include the toilet receptacle 124 and the toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may have the mouth 130 to receive the toilet receptacle 124. The toilet receptacle 124 may be removeable from the mouth 130 of the toilet-receptacle slat 126. A disposable lining 144 may be placed within the toilet receptacle 124. Once the waste management chair system 100 is utilized, the disposable lining 144 may be removed and disposed of for a more convenient clean-up of the toilet receptacle 124. The disposable lining 144 may be bio-degradable plastic.

Further included may be the pair of roll-out tracks 132 configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat 126 between the first-state 134 being inside of the inner-cavity 120 and the second-state 136 being outside the inner-cavity 120. The side-opening 138 may be integrated in at least one of the left-side 116 and the right-side 117 of the seat-rest 113 and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat 126 that may be moveable between the first-state 134 and the second-state 136. The side-opening 138 may include a flap 146 that may be closed and opened via a zipping fastener. The flap 146 may be of the same material as the chair 110.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of the waste management chair system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the waste management chair system 100 may include the chair 110 having the back-rest 111, the pair of arm-rests 112, and the seat-rest 113. The seat-rest 113 may include the top 114 opposite the bottom 115, the left-side 116 opposite the right-side 117, and the back 118 opposite the front 119. The bottom 115 may include at least four legs 150 to elevate the chair 110 above a ground surface 20.

The powered lift-mechanism 140 may be coupled to the bottom 115 of the seat-rest 113. The powered lift-mechanism 140 may be configured to pitch one of the front 119 and the back 118 of the seat-rest 113 to an upright position thus allowing the user 40 to easily sit or stand from the chair 110 without injury. The pitch of the powered lift-mechanism may be at least 45 degrees. The chair may include a user-interface (not shown) to set at least one user setting to operate the powered lift-mechanism 140. The user interface (not shown) may include a control panel, remote control, etc. integrated or separated from the chair 110.

The back-rest 111 may be fully reclineable relative to the seat-rest 113 allowing the user 40 to move into a horizontal position. The back-seat 111 may be power-operated via the at least one user setting of the user interface (not shown). The chair 110 further includes a power source 142 contained therein for powering the back-rest 111 being reclineable and the powered lift-mechanism 140. The power source 142 may be supplied by a power chord connected to an AC power outlet. Optionally, the power source 142 may be an independent rechargeable battery allowing the chair 110 to be operated without being connected to the AC power outlet.

According to one embodiment, the waste management chair system 100 may be arranged as a kit. The kit may include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the waste management chair system 100 (such that the waste management chair system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner).

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 550 illustrating a method of using 500 a waste management chair system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using 500 the waste management chair system 100 may include the steps of: removing a removable seat-cover 501, sitting down on a seat-rest 502, reclining a back-rest via at least one user setting of a user interface 503, utilizing a toilet receptacle 504, lifting a powered lift-mechanism via the at least one user setting of the user interface to an upright position 505, opening a flap connected to a side-opening to access an inner-cavity 506, moving a toilet-receptacle slat from a first-state to a second-state 507, and cleaning waste from the toilet receptacle 508.

It should be noted that steps 506, 507, and 508 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the waste management chair system 100 (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A waste management chair system, the system comprising: a chair having a back-rest, a pair of arm-rests, and a seat-rest, the seat-rest including a top opposite a bottom, a left-side opposite a right-side, and a back opposite a front; an inner-cavity contained within the seat-rest, the inner-cavity including, a removable seat-cover integrated in the top of the seat-rest and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity, a toilet receptacle, and a toilet-receptacle slat having a mouth to receive the toilet receptacle, a pair of roll-out tracks configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat between a first-state being inside of the inner-cavity and a second-state being outside the inner-cavity, and a side-opening integrated in at least one of the left-side and the right-side of the seat-rest, and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat that is moveable between the first-state and the second-state; a powered lift-mechanism coupled to the bottom of the seat-rest; and wherein the powered lift-mechanism is configured to pitch the front and the back of the seat-rest to an upright position.
 2. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the chair further includes a user-interface to set at least one user setting to operate the powered lift-mechanism.
 3. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the back-rest is fully reclineable relative to the seat-rest.
 4. The waste management chair system of claim 2, wherein the back-seat is power-operated via the at least one user setting of the user interface.
 5. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the chair further includes a power source contained therein.
 6. The waste management chair system of claim 5, wherein the power source is supplied by a power chord connected to an AC power outlet.
 7. The waste management chair system of claim 5, wherein the power source is an independent rechargeable battery.
 8. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the pitch of the powered lift-mechanism is at least 45 degrees.
 9. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the toilet receptacle is removeable from the mouth of the toilet-receptacle slat.
 10. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein a disposable lining may be placed within the toilet receptacle.
 11. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the chair is composed of pleather-material.
 12. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the side-opening includes a flap that is closed and opened via a zipping fastener.
 13. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the inner-cavity includes an opening under the removable seat-cover that corresponds to the toilet receptacle.
 14. The waste management chair system of claim 13, wherein the opening is circular and configured to accommodate a back-side of a user.
 15. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the inner cavity is at least 8 inches in depth.
 16. The waste management chair system of claim 1, wherein the bottom includes at least four legs to elevate the chair above a ground surface.
 17. A waste management chair system, the system comprising: a chair having a back-rest, a pair of arm-rests, and a seat-rest, the seat-rest including a top opposite a bottom, a left-side opposite a right-side, and a back opposite a front; an inner-cavity contained within the seat-rest, the inner-cavity including, a removable seat-cover integrated in the top of the seat-rest and configured to provide access to the inner-cavity, a toilet receptacle, a toilet-receptacle slat having a mouth to receive the toilet receptacle, a pair of roll-out tracks configured to move the toilet-receptacle slat between a first-state being inside of the inner-cavity and a second-state being outside the inner-cavity, a side-opening integrated in at least one of the left-side and the right-side of the seat-rest, and configured to provide access to the toilet-receptacle slat that is moveable between the first-state and the second-state; a powered lift-mechanism coupled to the bottom of the seat-rest; wherein the powered lift-mechanism is configured to pitch the front and the back of the seat-rest to an upright position; wherein the chair further includes a user-interface to set at least one user setting to operate the powered lift-mechanism; wherein the back-rest is fully reclineable relative to the seat-rest; wherein the back-seat is power-operated via the at least one user setting of the user interface; wherein the chair further includes a power source contained therein; wherein the power source is supplied by a power chord connected to an AC power outlet; wherein the pitch of the powered lift-mechanism is at least 45 degrees; wherein the toilet receptacle is removeable from the mouth of the toilet-receptacle slat; wherein a disposable lining may be placed within the toilet receptacle; wherein a surface of the chair is composed of pleather-material; wherein the side-opening includes a flap that is closed and opened via a zipping fastener; wherein the inner-cavity includes an opening under the removable seat-cover that corresponds to the toilet receptacle; wherein the opening is circular and configured to accommodate a back-side of a user; wherein the inner cavity is at least 8 inches in depth; and wherein the bottom includes at least four legs to elevate the chair above a ground surface.
 18. The waste management chair system of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the waste management chair system is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method of using a waste management chair system, the method comprising the steps of: removing a removable seat-cover, sitting down on a seat-rest, reclining a back-rest via at least one user setting of a user interface. utilizing a toilet receptacle, and lifting a powered lift-mechanism via the at least one user setting of the user interface to an upright position.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of opening a flap connected to a side-opening to access an inner-cavity, moving a toilet-receptacle slat from a first-state to a second-state, and cleaning waste from the toilet receptacle. 